Identifying Severely Mentally Ill Inmates: Can Small Jails Comply with Detection Standards?

Most researchers conclude that from six to fifteen percent of jail detainees meet the diagnostic criteria for severe mental illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. Although legal and professional standards mandate screening for mental illness in jails, few procedures exist that can be completed within the limited time constraints under which jails function. This study compares the detection rates of the Referral Decision Scale with a short, officer-administered booking questionnaire at a low capacity jail. Although the Referral Decision Scale produced a higher number of false positives, it correctly identified more mentally ill inmates than did the booking procedure. Results suggest that combining both instruments may provide the most comprehensive screening procedure for incoming detainees that is both manageable for small jails and within compliance of standards of inmate care.